In News:

A recent study published in the Journal of Cultural Heritage warns that rising sea levels may submerge Easter Island’s iconic Moai statues by 2080, endangering both the island’s cultural heritage and tourism-based economy.

About Moai Statues

• What they are: Massive monolithic statues carved from volcanic rock by the Rapa Nui people, the island’s first Polynesian settlers.
• Time of construction: Approx. 1250–1500 CE (some estimates: 1400–1650 CE).
• Number: Nearly 1,000 statues have been identified.
• Features:
  • Tallest statue: ~33 feet high.
  • Made primarily of volcanic tuff.
  • Carved in the likeness of ancestors.
• Cultural role:
  • Built to honor chiefs and important individuals.
  • Placed on rectangular stone platforms called ahu, which also served as tombs.
  • Each statue has unique traits to represent the person commemorated.

Study Findings

• Researchers used digital twin models and advanced simulations to project flooding risks caused by sea-level rise.
• Results show that by 2080, seasonal waves could reach Ahu Tongariki – the largest ceremonial platform on the island, part of the Rapa Nui National Park (UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1995).
• The flooding could impact 51 cultural assets, including the world-famous Moai statues.
• The study emphasizes the urgency of local community planning to safeguard heritage against climate risks.

Easter Island – Key Facts

• Location: Eastern Pacific Ocean.
• Forms part of the Polynesian Triangle along with Hawaii and New Zealand – the traditional homeland of Polynesian peoples.
• Known globally for its archaeological and cultural significance, particularly the Moai statues.

Why is it in the News?

The central government recently launched a framework to promote voluntary carbon markets in the agriculture sector.

What are Carbon Markets?

• Carbon markets are trading systems in which carbon credits are sold and bought.
• Companies or individuals can use carbon markets to compensate for their greenhouse gas emissions by purchasing carbon credits from entities that remove or reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
• One tradable carbon credit equals one tonne of carbon dioxide or the equivalent amount of a different greenhouse gas reduced, sequestered or avoided.
• When a credit is used to reduce, sequester, or avoid emissions, it becomes an offset and is no longer tradable.

Why are Carbon Markets Important?

• Scientists warn that 2°C of warming will be exceeded during the 21st century unless we achieve deep reductions in GHG emissions now.
• Effective action will require concerted and sufficient investment, knowing also that the costs of inaction will be far higher.
• The latest IPCC report finds all countries are falling way short, with financial flows three to six times lower than levels needed by 2030 – and even starker differences in some regions of the world.
• Many countries are turning to carbon markets as a key component in driving and financing the necessary transformation to tackle the climate crisis.

How Many Types of Carbon Markets Are There?

• There are broadly two types of carbon markets: compliance and voluntary.
  • Compliance markets are created as a result of any national, regional and/or international policy or regulatory requirement.
  • Voluntary carbon markets (VCM)– national and international – refer to the issuance, buying and selling of carbon credits, on a voluntary basis.
• The current supply of voluntary carbon credits comes mostly from private entities that develop carbon projects, or governments that develop programs certified by carbon standards that generate emission reductions and/or removals.

Importance of Establishing a VCM Framework in the Agricultural Sector:

• Emission Concerns: Agriculture in India contributes approximately 15% of the nation's greenhouse gas emissions, highlighting the urgent need for mitigation strategies.
• Vulnerability: With around 50% of cultivated land being rainfed and more than 80% of farmers categorized as small or marginal, the sector is highly susceptible to the impacts of climate change.
• National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture (2010): This initiative focuses on promoting adaptation measures such as agroforestry, micro irrigation, and soil health management, which not only reduce emissions but also offer opportunities for carbon sequestration.
• Additional Income Opportunities: Through the implementation of these practices, farmers can potentially generate additional income streams.